JPS60222372A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a steering wheel which is excellent in anti-shock capability and as well feeling, by forming the rim of the steering wheel with the use of woody group vinyle chloride composite resin and as well by disposing a damper member made of softened synthetic resin in the rim. CONSTITUTION:A rim 2 arranged around the metal spokes 1 of a steering wheel S is formed of two materials, woody group vinyle chloride composite resin and softened synthetic resin. Specifically, the rim 2 is composed of a core metal 3, a general section 5 formed of woody group vinyle chloride composite resin and a damper member made of a softened synthetic resin. With this arrangement, the steering wheel S generally has, as a whole, the feeling of a color tone which is inherent in woods, and as well its shock damping capability is excellent.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a steering wheel for a vehicle, and more particularly to a steering wheel having a wood texture.

[Prior art and its problems]

Traditionally, vehicle steering wheels have been made of wood because they have a good tactile feel when operating the steering wheel, have good moisture absorption, and are comfortable to grip, as well as from the viewpoint of creating a high-quality vehicle interior. 58-44506
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However, conventional wooden steering wheels have the disadvantage that they are difficult to mass produce and increase product costs because they require time and effort to process.

Therefore, instead of this wooden steering wheel, a steering wheel made of synthetic resin and having a wood texture has been provided.

These steering wheels with a wood texture can be produced by, for example, forming a steering wheel with a wood grain pattern using synthetic resin, and then drawing a wood grain pattern on the surface with a brush, or by applying fluid printing to a synthetic resin steering wheel. Some have a grain pattern.

However, although the above-mentioned steering wheel has a wood grain pattern on its appearance, it is completely different from a wooden steering wheel in terms of the feel and moisture absorption when operating the steering wheel. I was getting used to it.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention has been made from the above points of view, and is a steering wheel that has the same quality as a wooden steering wheel in terms of appearance, feel, moisture absorption, etc., has stable quality, and does not increase manufacturing costs. The purpose is to provide

[Structure of the invention]

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention has the rim of a steering wheel attached to a steering column formed of a wood-based vinyl chloride composite resin, while exposing the outer surface of the rim on the side opposite to the steering column side. At the same time, the gist of the configuration is that a buffer member made of soft synthetic resin is provided which is embedded within the rim.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

1 to 3 show a steering wheel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the steering wheel S according to the present embodiment, a rim 2 provided around metal spokes 1 is integrally molded into an annular shape from two materials such as a wood-based vinyl chloride composite resin and a soft synthetic resin.

That is, the rim 2 consists of a metal annular core 3, a forked portion 5 formed around the core 3 using a wood-based vinyl chloride composite resin, and a portion of the surface of the rim on the steering column C side (the third portion). 2
It consists of a buffer member 4 made of a soft synthetic resin and having a generally square cross section and an annular shape exposed on the opposite (upper side in FIG. 2) surface. - Specifically, first, the core metal 3 is placed in an annular mold in advance,
A wood-based vinyl chloride composite resin is injection molded into this mold to form a crotch portion 5, and an annular buffer member 4 with a substantially square cross section is injection molded into the groove G formed in the crotch portion 5. It is what it is.

Here, the wood-based vinyl chloride composite resin has the good coloring properties of vinyl chloride resin, and because it is mixed with wood powder, it has the color tone and feel unique to wood, and has hygroscopic properties due to the wood powder.
The material has excellent breathability.

Therefore, according to the steering wheel S according to the present embodiment, the steering wheel S as a whole has a color tone and feel unique to wood, and the one-piece portion 5 formed of a wood-based vinyl chloride composite resin has hygroscopicity and air permeability. This gives you a feeling of grip that is almost the same as a wooden steering wheel.

Furthermore, since the steering wheel S according to this embodiment is provided with a buffer member 4, even if the driver hits the steering wheel S during a vehicle collision, the shock absorber 4 exposed on the outer surface of the rim will prevent the driver from colliding with the steering wheel S. The impact is alleviated,
Safety is further improved. Furthermore, if the soft synthetic resin forming the buffer part 4 and the wood-based cyclized vinyl composite resin forming the crotch part 5 are made the same color, a steering wheel with a sense of unity can be obtained. By changing the color of the resin, the degree of freedom in shaping the steering wheel increases.

FIG. 4 shows a steering wheel S' according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the overall structure of the steering wheel is the same as the steering wheel S shown in the first embodiment. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the cross-sectional shape of the buffer member 4' made of soft synthetic resin. That is, in this embodiment, the buffer member 4' increases the area exposed to the surface of the steering wheel 81, and -
A portion having an arcuate cross section covering the crotch portion 5' is extended to increase its cross-sectional area. Similar to the steering wheel S according to the first embodiment, the steering wheel Sl according to the present embodiment has an annular core metal 3 placed in an annular mold, and a wood-based vinyl chloride composite tree The crotch portion 51 is formed by injection molding, and the buffer member 4' is injection molded into the groove G' of the crotch portion 51.

Therefore, according to the steering wheel S' according to the present embodiment, in addition to the functions and effects achieved by the steering wheel S according to the first embodiment, the impact resistance performance of the steering wheel having a wood texture can be further improved. Can be done.

In each of the above embodiments, the cushioning member was injection molded into the twilling groove of the general section, but this could be done using other methods, such as molding the cushioning member in advance and molding it into the annular groove of the crotch section. It is also possible to use a method of bonding the inner part with an adhesive.

Furthermore, if the wood powder or wood powder mixed into the vinyl chloride resin is appropriately colored, the degree of freedom in shaping the steering wheel can be further improved. By using a vinyl chloride resin mixed with wood flour, wood powder, etc. colored in a plurality of different colors, it is possible to further improve the wood texture.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the steering wheel according to the present invention has a rim made of a wood-based vinyl chloride composite resin, and a soft synthetic resin cushioning member that is exposed on the surface opposite to the steering column and buried within the rim. By providing a steering wheel, the appearance and grip feeling of the steering wheel can be made to be equivalent to that of a wooden steering wheel, and
This has the effect of improving the impact resistance of the steering wheel.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view showing a steering wheel of a vehicle, Fig. 2 is a side view of a steering wheel according to embodiments of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a cross section corresponding to the I'-1ff line in Fig. 2. 4 are sectional views similar to FIG. 3 of a steering wheel according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 1...Spoke 2...Rim 3...Core metal 4.4'...Buffer member (made of soft synthetic resin) 5.5'
...-crotch (wood-based vinyl chloride composite resin M) s, s+
... Steering wheel patent applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Applicant: Nippon Plast Co., Ltd. Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] The rim of the steering wheel attached to the steering column is made of wood powder or a wood-based vinyl chloride composite resin mixed with wood powder. A steering wheel characterized by having an annular soft synthetic resin cushioning member embedded in the steering wheel.